Methods and compounds useful to induce apoptosis in cancer cells

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for treating cancer in a mammal comprising contacting the cancer cells with a compound which is a apogossypol, derivative.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/482,886, filed Jun. 25, 2003; which is incorporated hereinby reference.

GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

The invention described herein was made with government support undergrant number CA78040-05 awarded by the National Institute of Health. TheUnited States Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there is a need for novel, potent, and selective agents toprevent and or treat cancer, particularly melanoma, cancer of thecervix, or leukemia. One of the methods currently under study isselective induction of apoptosis. There is also a need forpharmacological tools for the further study of the physiologicalprocesses associated with selective induction of apoptosis.

Progammed cell-death (apoptosis) is critical for tissue homeostatis, forthe physiological removal of unwanted cells during development and inhost defence mechanism (Vaux et al., Cell, 96:245 (1999)). Inhibition ofapoptosis is implied in every known human malignancy. This inhibitionprovides malignant cells with a selective growth advantage, allowingsurvival in the face of radiation or chemotherapy. (See Reed, Curr.Opin. Oncol., 7:541 (1995), and Kelekar et al., Trends Cell. Biol.,8:324 (1998).) The Bcl-2 family of proteins are believed to be importantregulators of apoptosis; pro-survival members of this family, such asBCl-x_(L), contain, on the surface, an hydrophobic groove in which isbelieved to allow binding of the BH3 domain of the pro-apoptoticcounterpart (Johnstone et al., Cell, 108:153 (2002)). This binding isbelieved to be crucial for apoptosis regulation, in fact pro andanti-survival proteins can reverse each other function throughdimerization. It is believed that the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 familymembers are generally overexpressed in many human malignancies. Theseobservations have lead to a growing interest in the discovery of smallmolecules, targeting anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, andmainly, Bcl-x_(L), as potential anticancer therapeutic agents (Wang etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 97:7124 (2000)), Degterev et al.,Nat. Cell Biol., 3:173 (2001); Tzung et al., Nat. Cell Biol., 3:183(2001); Enyedy et al., J. Med. Chem., 44:4313 (2001)). However, untilnow the proposed compounds failed to fully corroborate the role ofBCl-x_(L) inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents (Kaneko et al.,Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 11:887 (2001); Chin et al., Angew. Chem. Int.Ed. Engl., 40:3806 (2001); Kutzki et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 124:11838(2002)) because of either their poor in vivo activity or the in vitrolow affinity.

Therefore, a need exists to identify potent cell permeable compounds fortargeting the Bcl-2 family of receptors such as, for example, BCl-x_(L),Bcl-2, Mcl-1, or Bcl-B. There exists a need for agonists that caninhibit the binding of BH3 to the Bcl-2 receptors.

In addition a need exists for compounds useful as chemosensitizers inparticular for cancer types where anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins,such as Bcl-x_(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-W, or Bcl-B, are over produced bythe cancer cells (such as, for example, lymphomas, neuroblastoma, breastcancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, leukemias, and thelike).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for treating cancer in a patientcomprising contacting the cancer cells with a compound selected from thegroup consisting of gossypol, apogossypol, derivatives of apogossypol,theaflavin, theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavanin, (−)gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), (−) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),(−) catechin-3-gallate (CG), (−) epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG),derivatives of purpurogallin, and mixtures thereof, effective to reducethe viability of the cancerous cells.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for inducingapoptosis, modulating caspase activity, or inducing cell death in apatient comprising contacting target cells with a compound selected fromthe group consisting of gossypol, apogossypol, derivatives ofapogossypol, theaflavin, theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavanin, (−)gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), (−) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),(−) catechin-3-gallate (CG), (−) epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG),derivatives of purpurogallin, and mixtures thereof, effective to induceapoptosis, modulate caspase activity, or induce cell death the targetcells

In addition, the present invention provides a method for inducingapoptosis, modulating caspase activity, or inducing cell death in cellsthat overexpress a Bcl-2 family protein comprising contacting targetcells with a compound of the invention disclosed herein.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treatingcancer in a patient, comprising administering to the subject achemosensitizing agent selected from the group consisting of gossypol,apogossypol, derivatives of apogossypol, theaflavin,theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavanin, (−) gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG),(−) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (−) catechin-3-gallate (CG), (−)epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), derivatives of purpurogallin, and mixturesthereof, in combination with an anticancer agent

In addition, the invention provides a method for identifying a compoundthat is effective to modulate the binding of Bcl-2 proteins such as, forexample, BCl-x_(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-W, and Bcl-B to the BH3 domain ofpro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bid, Bad,Bak, Bax or a peptide comprising a BH3 domain alone.

The invention provides methods for identifying a compound that binds tothe Bcl-2 family proteins (e.g., Bcl-x_(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-W, andBcl-B) or modulates a Bcl-2 activity. Furthermore, the inventionprovides a method for identifying a compound that binds the Bcl-2 familyproteins or modulates a Bcl-2 activity, when complexed to the BH3 domainof pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, proteins such as Bid, Bad,Bak, Bax or a peptide comprising a BH3 domain alone.

The invention provides a compounds as described herein for use inmedical therapy (e.g., for use in inducing apoptosis, modulating caspaseactivity, inducing cell death, or treating cancer, preferably for use intreating lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, other forms ofcancer, and leukemia, such as, for example, acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML), and other diseases of proliferation) as well as the use of acompound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for inducingapoptosis, modulating caspase activity, inducing cell death, or treatingcancer, preferably for use in treating lung cancer, breast cancer,prostate cancer, CML, ALL, AML, other forms of cancer or leukemia, andother diseases of proliferation, in a mammal, such as a human. Thecompounds of the invention are also useful for treatment in diseases inwhich apoptosis, using the AHPN antagonist pathway, is one of thesymptoms, such as, for example, heart conditions, Parkinson's disease,Alzheimer's disease and the like.

The invention also provides a method to induce apoptosis or death in acell comprising contacting the cell, in vitro or in vivo, with aneffective amount of a compound of the invention (as described herein).

The invention also provides a method to induce apoptosis in a mammal inneed of such treatment comprising administering to the mammal, aneffective amount of a compound of the invention (as described herein).

The invention also provides a method to activate a caspase (e.g.,Capsase 3 and 7, via the inhibition the anti-apoptotic proteins in theBcl-2 family) in a ell comprising contacting the cell, in vitro or invivo, with an effective amount of a compound of the invention (asdescribed herein).

The invention also provides a method for preventing or treating apathological condition or symptom in a mammal, such as a human,associated with caspase (e.g., Capsase 3 and 7, via the inhibition theanti-apoptotic proteins in the Bcl-2 family) activation comprisingadministering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effectivecaspase-modulating amount of a compound of the invention (as describedherein).

The invention also provides a therapeutic method to induce cell deathcomprising contacting a cell, in vitro or in vivo, with an effectiveamount of a compound of the invention (as described herein).

The invention also provides a method to induce cell death in a mammal inneed of such treatment comprising administering to the mammal, aneffective amount of a compound of the invention (as described herein).

The invention also provides a method to treat cancer (e.g., lung cancer,colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ALL, CLL, AML, solidtumors, other forms of cancer or leukemia such as, for example,lymphomas, neuroblastoma, and other diseases of proliferation) in amammal in need of such treatment comprising administering to the mammal,an effective amount of a compound of the invention (as describedherein).

The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent thatinhibits the anti-apoptotic activity of the Bcl-2 family of proteinssuch as, for example, BCl-x_(L) and Bcl-2, comprising: a) detecting aselective Bcl-x_(L) or Bcl-2 inhibitor bound to a labeled BCl-x_(L),said BCl-x_(L) inhibitor comprising a core structure selected from thegroup consisting of gossypol, apogossypol, derivatives of apogossypol,theaflavin, theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavanin, (−)allocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), (−) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (−)catechin-3-gallate (CG), (−) epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), andderivatives of purpurogallin; b) contacting the bound BCl-x_(L) with acandidate agent, said candidate agent suspected of being able to inhibitBCl-x_(L); and c) detecting dissociation of said BCl-x_(L) inhibitorfrom said labeled Bcl-x_(L), whereby said candidate agent is identifiedas an agent that inhibits Bcl-x_(L).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Gossypol and Purpurogallin compete for the BH3-binding pocket ofBcl-x_(L). Chemical structure of Gossypol (a) and Purpurogallin (c).Results of Fluorescence polarization-based competitive binding assays(FPA) using a fluorescein-labeled Bad peptide(NLWAAQRYGRELRRMSD-K(FITC)-FVD) (Synpep Corporation, Dublin, Calif.) areshown in (c) for Gossypol and (d) for Purpurogallin.

FIG. 2. NMR binding studies. (a) 2D [¹⁵N, ¹H]-TROSY spectra forBCl-x_(L) in the apo (left) and Gossypol-bound (right) forms. (b)Chemical-shift mapping of Gossypol into the three-dimensional structureof BCl-x_(L) in complex with Bak peptide (PDB code 1BXL). The peptide isdisplayed in yellow. Regions affected by the binding of Gossypol arecolored in red. (c) and (d) T_(1ρ) experiments (300 ms relaxation time)with Gossypol and Purpurogallin, respectively: blue, without protein andred with 10 μM BCl-x_(L). Peaks shown in (c) represent the isopropyl andthe methyl groups in Gossypol. In (d), the peak marked with an asteriskrepresents residual imidazole present in the protein preparation.

FIG. 3. Molecular modeling studies. (a) Surface representation ofBCl-x_(L) with the docked structure of Gossypol obtained by FlexX. (b)Superposition of 5D1 (green) and Gossypol (white with red for oxygenatoms).

FIG. 4. Inhibitory effect of compounds on cancer cell survival. Theeffects of Gossypol on viability of tumor cells in culture weremonitored by using XTT assays with (a) MCF7 and (b) ZR75-1 cell lines(black circles). As a negative control, a generic polyphenolic compoundwas also tested (open circles). Low-passage HeLa cells (between passagenumber 10 and 20) were transfected with pcDNA3-Bcl-x_(L) (black circles)or control pcDNA3 plasmids (open circles). (c) Immunoblot analysisconfirmed over-expression of BCl-x_(L) in the cells transfected withpcDNA3-Bcl-x_(L) compound to pcDNA3-control transfectants. (Cell lysateswere normalized for total protein content; 25 μg per lane). (d)HeLa-transfectants were treated with various doses of Gossypol (0, 1, 3,10 and 100 μM). Data shown represent mean±standard deviation (n=4).

FIG. 5 illustrates the activity of Apogossypol (6Cl) and Gossypol as asingle agent in previously untreated, newly diagnosed CLL.

FIG. 6 illustrates the additive effect of Apogossypol (6Cl) andfludarabine (F-ara-A).

FIG. 7 illustrates the synergistic Effect of Apogossypol (6Cl) withF-ara-A.

FIG. 8 illustrates the binding of (−)EGCG to the Bcl-x_(L) receptor;

-   -   (a) T_(1ρ) experiments (200 ms relaxation time) with (−)EGCG        before (upper spectrum) and after addition of 10 μM Bcl-x_(L)        (lower spectrum). Peaks shown in (a) represent the protons 4α        and 4β of the catechin group, the * indicates DMSO;    -   (b) Results of Fluorescence Polarization-based competitive        binding assay for (−)EGCG; and    -   (c) Surface representation of Bcl-x_(L) with the docked        structure of (−)EGCG obtained by FlexX, the three subpockets        (P1, P2 and P3) occupied by the ligand are indicated.

FIG. 9 illustrates a comparison between (−)CG and (−)C;

-   -   (a) T_(1ρ) experiments (200 ms relaxation time) of (−)CG        (left-side) and (−)C (right-side); spectra recorded in absence        of protein are reported in blue; * indicates imidazole from        protein buffer;    -   (b) Superposition of FPA results for (−)CG and (−)C; and    -   (c) Surface representation of Bcl-x_(L) binding pocked with the        docked structures of (−)CG (red) and (−)C (blue).

FIG. 10 illustrates the binding of Theaflavin-3′-gallate to the Bcl-XLreceptor:

-   -   (a) 2D [¹⁵N,¹H]-TROSY spectra for Bcl-x_(L) (0.250 mM) before        (left) and after addition of theaflavin-3′ gallate (1 mM)        (right);    -   (b) FPA results for theaflavin-3′ gallate; and    -   (c) Surface representation of BCl-x_(L) binding pocked with the        docked structure of theaflavin-3′ gallate, the three subpockets        (P1, P2 and P3) occupied by the ligand are circled

FIG. 11 illustrated the inhibition of BCl-x_(L) using the Theaflavinsshown.

FIG. 12 illustrated the inhibition of BCl-x_(L) using Theaflavanin.

FIG. 13 illustrated the effect of Theaflavanin on Hela cells in an XTTassay.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The compounds of the present invention are useful for antagonizingreceptors of the Bcl-2 proteins (such as, for example, Bcl-2, Bcl-x_(L),Mcl-1, Bcl-W, or Bcl-B). These proteins can render cancer cells moreresistant to normal anti-cancer treatment such as, for example,radiation or chemotherapy. Thus, these cells do not die and canproliferate. Inhibition of such proteins by the compounds describedherein would reduce or eliminate the cells' resistance to anti-cancertreatment. Therefore, these compounds are useful as chemosensitizers.Thus, the compounds of the invention can cause cancer cells to becomemore sensitive to anti-cancer treatment such as, for example, radiationor chemotherapy. Thus, the invention provides a method for modulatingthe formation of complexes between Bcl-2 proteins and the BH3 domain ofpro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members and compounds that are useful formodulating the amount or stability of these complexes.

The present invention provides a method for screening compounds usingspectral techniques to determine the ability of the compounds of theinvention to bind to the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x_(L). The methodidentifies compounds that may be used in conjunction with otheranticancer compounds. The different green and black tea polyphenolcompounds were screened by using a combination of Nuclear MagneticResonance (NMR) binding assays, Fluorescence Polarization Assay (FPA)and Computational-Docking studies.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method to evaluate the activityof tea polyphenols that can act as anticancer agents partly throughtheir binding to the anti-apoptotic protein BCl-x_(L) and subsequentinhibition of its interaction with pro-survival members of the Bcl-2family.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifyingcompounds that can effectively modulate the binding of BCl-x_(L) to BH3.The method includes (a) contacting BCl-x_(L) with BH3 under conditionssuitable to form a Bcl-x_(L)-BH3 complex; (b) contacting theBcl-x_(L)-BH3 complex with a test compound; and (c) determining theability of the test compound to modulate the binding of BCl-x_(L) toBH3, where modulation of the binding of BCl-x_(L) to BH3 indicates thatthe test compound is an effective compound that modulates the binding ofBCl-x_(L) to BH3.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifyingagents that can effectively modulate the binding of the Bcl-2 familyproteins such as, for example, Bcl-x_(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-W, or Bcl-Bcomprising identifying a Bcl-2 inhibitor or a labeled Bcl-2 inhibitor,wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of thecompounds listed in Tables 1, 2, 3 and apogossypol derivatives. Themethod includes (a) identifying a Bcl-2 inhibitor or a labeled Bcl-2inhibitor, wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consistingof gossypol, apogossypol, derivatives of apogossypol, theaflavin,theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavanin, (−) gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG),(−) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (−) catechin-3-gallate (CG), (−)epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and derivatives of purpurogallin contactingthe Bcl-2 family proteins with the inhibitor (e.g., those listed intable 1) under conditions suitable to form a complex with the Bcl-2family protein; (b) contacting the Bcl-2 inhibitor complex with a testcompound; and (c) determining the ability of the test compound tomodulate the binding of BCl-x_(L) to the inhibitor, where modulation ofthe binding of the Bcl-2 protein to the inhibitor compound indicatesthat the test compound (agent) is an effective compound for modulatingthe binding of Bcl-2 to the inhibitor compound.

In another aspect, the invention provides polyphenol compounds that areuseful for sensitizing cancer cells to increase the effectiveness oftraditional chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.

In another aspect, the invention provides for the use of apogossypol, oran analog thereof, for the treatment of cancer either alone, or incombination with an anticancer agent.

In another aspect, the invention provides for the use of Purpurogallin,or an analog thereof, for the treatment of cancer either alone, or incombination with an anticancer agent.

In another aspect, the invention provides for the use of polyphenolsfrom black or green tea for the treatment of cancer either alone, or incombination with an anticancer agent.

In another aspect, the invention provides for the use of polyphenols asa cancer prevention agent. The polyphenol compounds described in thisinvention may be administered to a patient with a high susceptibility todeveloping a cancer such as, for example, lung cancer, breast cancer,prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and leukemia to reduce thelikelihood that the patient will develop such cancer.

In the present invention, polyphenols from green and black tea weretested. Green tea is produced from the unfermented leaves of CameliaSinensis and polyphenols—known as catechins—constitute its principalchemical components. Epicatechin (EC), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG),epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin-3 gallate (Table 1) are themajor catechins contained in the green tea (Chu et al., In: Yamamoto,T., Juneja, J. R., Cu, D.C. and Kim, M. Chemistry and Application ofGreen Tea, pp. 13-22, New York: CRC Press, 1997). Black tea is made byextensive enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols to polymerized products,such as theaflavins (Pan et al.). Theaflavin, theaflavin-3 gallate,theaflavin-3′gallate, and theaflavin-3-3′ digallate are the principaltheaflavins in black tea.

In addition, the invention provides a method to correlate the anticanceractivity of tea with its interaction with the anti-apoptotic proteins ofthe Bcl-2 family such as, for example, BCl-x_(L) and Bcl-2.

In addition, the invention provides a method to correlate the anticanceractivity of tea with its interaction with the anti-apoptotic proteins ofthe Bcl-2 family such as, for example, BCl-x_(L) and Bcl-2.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for screeningcompounds for anti-cancer activity and provides a method to determinethat a compound of the invention can assist in cancer treatment usingpharmacological models using the assays described herein below.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising thecompounds described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent orcarrier. Further, the invention provides the use of compounds disclosedherein in combination with other known anticancer compounds.

The invention provides a method for treating cancer comprisingadministering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amountof the compounds described herein, the compounds described herein incombination with an additional anti-cancer compound or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In addition, the invention provides a method for the prevention ofcancer or a method for reducing the likelihood that a patient willdevelop such cancer comprising administering to a mammal in need of suchtherapy, an effective amount of the compounds described herein or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The following definitions are used, unless otherwise described: halo isfluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo. Alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, etc.denote both straight and branched groups; but reference to an individualgroup such as “propyl” embraces only the straight chain group, abranched chain isomer such as “isopropyl” being specifically referredto. Aryl denotes a phenyl group or an ortho-fused bicyclic carbocyclicgroup having about nine to ten ring atoms in which at least one ring isaromatic. Heteroaryl encompasses a group attached via a ring carbon of amonocyclic aromatic ring containing five or six ring atoms consisting ofcarbon and one to four heteroatoms each selected from the groupconsisting of non-peroxide oxygen, sulfur, and N(X) wherein X is absentor is H, O, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, as well as a group of anortho-fused bicyclic-heterocycle of about eight to ten ring atomsderived therefrom, particularly a benz-derivative or one derived byfusing a propylene, trimethylene, or tetramethylene digroup thereto.

Specifically, the term “alkyl” refers to a branched or unbranchedsaturated hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl,ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, and thelike. Preferred alkyl groups herein contain one to 6 carbon atoms, suchas, for example, methyl, ethyl, and the like.

As used herein the term “cycloalkyl” refers to a cyclic alkyl group ofthree to eight, preferably three, five or six, carbon atoms. The term“cycloalkylene” as used herein refers to a divalent cyclic alkylenegroup, typically a 3-, 5-, 6-, or 8-membered ring.

The term “alkoxy” as used herein refers to an alkyl group bound througha single, terminal ether linkage, i.e., an “alkoxy” group may be definedas —OR where R is alkyl as defined above. A “lower alkoxy” group refersto an alkoxy group containing 1 to 6, carbon atoms.

The term “aryl” as used herein intends an aromatic carbocyclic ring,typically 6- or 10-membered, wherein at least one ring is aromatic.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that compounds of theinvention having a chiral center may exist in and be isolated inoptically active and racemic forms. Some compounds may exhibitpolymorphism. It is to be understood that the present inventionencompasses any racemic, optically active, polymorphic, orstereoisomeric form, or mixtures thereof, of a compound of theinvention, which possesses the useful properties described herein. Itbeing well known in the art how to prepare optically active forms (forexample, by resolution of the racemic form by recrystallizationtechniques, by synthesis from optically active starting materials, bychiral synthesis, or by chromatographic separation using a chiralstationary phase) and how to determine the anti cancer activity usingthe standard tests described herein, or using other similar tests whichare well known in the art.

Specific and preferred values listed below for groups, substituents, andranges, are for illustration only; they do not exclude other definedvalues or other values within defined ranges for the groups andsubstituents.

Specifically, alkyl can be methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl,iso-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, 3-pentyl, or hexyl; cycloalkyl can becyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, or cyclohexyl; —O(C₁-C₆)alkyl(alkoxy) can be methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy,iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, pentoxy, 3-pentoxy, or hexyloxy.

Specific compounds useful for practicing the invention are listed inTable 1 and Table 2.

TABLE 1 GREEN TEA EXTRACTS Compound Structure IC₅₀ (μM) (−)Gallocatechin-3- gallate (GCG)

0.63 (−) Gallocatechin (GC)

>100 (−) Epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG)

0.98 (−) Epigallocatechin (EGC)

>100 (−) Catechin-3-gallate (CG)

0.29 (−) Catechin (C)

>100 (−) Epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG)

0.24 (+) Epicatechin (EC)

>100

TABLE 2 BLACK TEA EXTRACTS Compound Structure IC₅₀ (μM) TheaflavinDigallate

>100 Theaflavin-3′-gallate

0.60 Theaflavin

1.05 Theaflavanin

0.55

Non-limiting examples of polyphenols isolated from black or green teainclude catechins, such as, Epicatechin (EC), epicatechin-3 gallate(ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin-3 gallate, and the like;theaflavins, such as, Theaflavin, theaflavin-3 gallate,theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavin-3-3′ digallate and the like.

Other specific compounds of the invention include Purpurogallin andderivatives thereof such as shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Purpurogallin derivatives

CMPD R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ R₅ Purpuro- —OH —OH —OH —OH —H gallin 5D1 —H —OH —OH—OH —COOC₂H₅ 1163 —H —OH —OH —OH —COOCH₃ 1142 —H —OH —OH —OH —COOH 6A1—OCH₃ —OCH₃ —OCH₃ —OCH₃ —H 6A7 —OCH₃ —OCH₃ —OH —OCH₃ —H

Additional compounds useful in practicing the invention includecompounds such as, for example, apogossypol, a compound which is lesstoxic to normal cells but has similar cytotoxicity against cancer cellsas Gossypol, and analogues of Apogossypol. These analogues have improvedpotency and selectivity for Bcl-x1/2. The analogue compounds of theinvention have the formula I:

-   -   wherein: each R⁶, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are independently hydrogen,        hydroxyl, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —(C₁-C₆)alkylhalo,        —OC(O)(C₁-C₆)alkyl, or halo; each R⁷ is independently hydrogen,        —(C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, —(C₆-C₁₀)aryl, or —(C₁-C₆)alkyl(C₆-C₁₀)aryl;        or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Specific R⁶, R⁸, R⁹ groups are independently hydrogen, —OH, —OCH₃, —CF₃,—CH₃, —OC₂H₅, —OC(O)CH₃, F, Cl, or Br

Specific R⁷ groups are independently hydrogen, —C₂H₅; -i-Pr, n-Pr, n-Bu,t-Bu, i-Bu, s-Bu, cyclohexyl.

Specific R¹⁰ groups are independently hydrogen, —OH, —OCH₃, —CF₃, —CH₃,—OC₂H₅, —OC(O)CH₃, F, Cl, or Br.

A specific compound of the invention has formula (I) where R⁶, R⁸, R⁹,are each acetate (—OC(O)CH₃); R⁷ is i-Pr; and R¹⁰ is —CH₃ (Apogossypolhexaacetate) This compound can also be used as pro-drug for oraladministration of apogossypol. In another embodiment the compounds ofthe invention include compounds of formula (I) wherein one of the R⁶groups is a group other than hydrogen.

As used herein, the term “patient” refers to organisms to be treated bythe methods of the present invention. Such organisms include, but arenot limited to, humans. In the context of the invention, the term“subject” generally refers to an individual who will receive or who hasreceived treatment (e.g., administration of the compounds of theinvention, and optionally one or more anticancer agents) for a diseasecharacterized by overexpression of Bcl-2 family proteins (e.g.,Bcl-x_(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-W, or Bcl-B).

As used herein, the terms “anticancer agent,” or “chemotherapeuticanticancer agent” refer to any chemotherapeutic compounds, radiationtherapies, and surgical techniques that are used in the treatment ofcancer.

Anticancer agents useful for practicing the instant invention includecytotoxic agents or cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Non limitingexamples, of cytotoxic agents useful in the practice of the inventioninclude, without limitation, small molecules, polypeptides, peptides,peptidomimetics, nucleic acid molecules, cells and viruses. As nonlimiting examples, cytotoxic agents useful in the invention includecytotoxic small molecules, i.e., compounds that typically target a DNAassociated process, such as, for example, doxorubicin, docetaxel,trastuzumab, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, mitomycin C, bizelesin,cisplatin, doxorubicin, etoposide, mitoxantrone, SN 38, Et 743,actinomycin D, bleomycin, TLK286, and the like; antimicrobial peptidessuch as those described further below; pro-apoptotic polypeptides suchas caspases and toxins, for example, caspase 8; diphtheria toxin Achain, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, cholera toxin, ligand fusion toxins suchas DAB389EGF, ricinus communis toxin (ricin); and cytotoxic cells suchas cytotoxic T cells. See, for example, Martin et al., Cancer Res.,60:3218 (2000); Kreitman et al., Blood, 90:252 (1997); Allam et al.,Cancer Res., 57:2615 (1997); and Osborne et al., Cancer J. Sci. Am.,2:175 (1996).

Additional anticancer chemotherapeutic agents suitable for use in thepresent invention include, without limitation, taxanes such as docetaxel(Taxotere, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Parsippany, N.J.) andpaclitaxel (Taxol, Bristol Myers Squibb; Princeton, N.J.); ananthracyclin such as doxorubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin, and thelike; an alkylating agent; a vinca alkaloid; an anti metabolite; aplatinum agent such as cisplatin or carboplatin; a steroid such asmethotrexate; an antibiotic such as adriamycin; a isofamide; or aselective estrogen receptor modulator; an antibody such as trastuzumab.

Doxorubicin is a commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic agent and can beuseful, for example, for treating breast cancer (Stewart et al., In:“Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology” 5th ed., Chap. 19 (eds.DeVita, Jr., et al.; J. P. Lippincott 1997). In addition, doxorubicinhas anti angiogenic activity (Folkman, Nature Biotechnology, 15:510(1997); Steiner, “Angiogenesis: Key principles Science, technology andmedicine,” pp. 449 454 (eds. Steiner et al.; Birkhauser Verlag, 1992)),which can contribute to its effectiveness in treating cancer.

Alkylating agents such as melphalan or chlorambucil are cancerchemotherapeutic agents useful in the combination treatment of theinvention. Similarly, a vinca alkaloid such as vindesine, vinblastine orvinorelbine; or an antimetabolite such as 5-fluorouracil,5-fluorouridine or a derivative thereof are cancer chemotherapeuticagents useful in the combination treatment of the invention.

Platinum agents are chemotherapeutic agents useful in the combinationtreatment of the invention. Such a platinum agent can be, for example,cisplatin or carboplatin as described, for example, in Crown, Seminarsin Oncol., 28:28 (2001). Other cancer chemotherapeutic agents useful inthe combination treatment of the invention include, without limitation,methotrexate, mitomycin C, adriamycin, ifosfamide and ansamycins.

Cancer chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of breast cancer andother hormonally dependent cancers also can be used as an agent thatantagonizes the effect of estrogen, such as a selective estrogenreceptor modulator or an anti estrogen. The selective estrogen receptormodulator, tamoxifen, is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent that can beused in the combination treatment of the invention for treatment ofbreast cancer (Fisher et al., J. Natl. Cancer Instit., 90:1371 (1998)).

Another type of therapeutic agent useful in the combination treatment ofthe invention is an antibody such as a humanized monoclonal antibody.Non-limiting examples include, the anti epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) antibody. Trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech, South SanFrancisco, Calif.) is another therapeutic agent that is useful in aconjugate of the invention for treating HER2/neu overexpressing breastcancers (White et al., Annu. Rev. Med., 52:125 (2001)).

Another therapeutic agent useful in the invention also can be cytotoxicagents, which, as used herein, is any molecule that directly orindirectly promotes cell death.

Specific anticancer agents include Flavopiridol, Adriamycin(doxorubicin), VP16 (Etoposide), Taxol (paclitaxel), cisplatin and thelike.

In cases where compounds are sufficiently basic or acidic to form stablenontoxic acid or base salts, administration of the compounds as saltsmay be appropriate. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts areorganic acid addition salts formed with acids which form a physiologicalacceptable anion, for example, tosylate, methanesulfonate, acetate,citrate, malonate, tartarate, succinate, benzoate, ascorbate,α-ketoglutarate, and α-glycerophosphate. Suitable inorganic salts mayalso be formed, including hydrochloride, sulfate, nitrate, bicarbonate,and carbonate salts.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be obtained using standardprocedures well known in the art, for example by reacting a sufficientlybasic compound such as an amine with a suitable acid affording aphysiologically acceptable anion. Alkali metal (for example, sodium,potassium or lithium) or alkaline earth metal (for example calcium)salts of carboxylic acids can also be made.

The compounds useful in practicing the invention can be formulated aspharmaceutical compositions and administered to a mammalian host, suchas a human patient in a variety of forms adapted to the chosen route ofadministration, i.e., orally or parenterally, by intravenous,intramuscular, topical or subcutaneous routes.

Thus, the compounds may be systemically administered, e.g., orally, incombination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle such as an inertdiluent or an assimilable edible carrier. They may be enclosed in hardor soft shell gelatin capsules, may be compressed into tablets, or maybe incorporated directly with the food of the patient's diet. For oraltherapeutic administration, the active compound may be combined with oneor more excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccaltablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, andthe like. Such compositions and preparations should contain at least0.1% of active compound. The percentage of the compositions andpreparations may, of course, be varied and may conveniently be betweenabout 2 to about 60% of the weight of a given unit dosage form. Theamount of active compound in such therapeutically useful compositions issuch that an effective dosage level will be obtained.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules, and the like may also contain thefollowing: binders such as gum tragacanth, acacia, corn starch orgelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agentsuch as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; alubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such assucrose, fructose, lactose or aspartame or a flavoring agent such aspeppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavoring may be added. Whenthe unit dosage form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition tomaterials of the above type, a liquid carrier, such as a vegetable oilor a polyethylene glycol. Various other materials may be present ascoatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the solid unitdosage form. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coatedwith gelatin, wax, shellac or sugar and the like. A syrup or elixir maycontain the active compound, sucrose or fructose as a sweetening agent,methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye and flavoring such ascherry or orange flavor. Of course, any material used in preparing anyunit dosage form should be pharmaceutically acceptable and substantiallynon-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the active compound maybe incorporated into sustained-release preparations and devices.

The active compound may also be administered intravenously orintraperitoneally by infusion or injection. Solutions of the activecompound or its salts can be prepared in water, optionally mixed with anontoxic surfactant. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol,liquid polyethylene glycols, triacetin, and mixtures thereof and inoils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparationscontain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

The pharmaceutical dosage forms suitable for injection or infusion caninclude sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions or sterile powderscomprising the active ingredient which are adapted for theextemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable or infusible solutionsor dispersions, optionally encapsulated in liposomes. In all cases, theultimate dosage form should be sterile, fluid and stable under theconditions of manufacture and storage. The liquid carrier or vehicle canbe a solvent or liquid dispersion medium comprising, for example, water,ethanol, a polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, liquidpolyethylene glycols, and the like), vegetable oils, nontoxic glycerylesters, and suitable mixtures thereof. The proper fluidity can bemaintained, for example, by the formation of liposomes, by themaintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions orby the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action ofmicroorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial andantifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbicacid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable toinclude isotonic agents, for example, sugars, buffers or sodiumchloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can bebrought about by the use in the compositions of agents delayingabsorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the activecompound in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with variousof the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed byfilter sterilization. In the case of sterile powders for the preparationof sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparationare vacuum drying and the freeze drying techniques, which yield a powderof the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient presentin the previously sterile-filtered solutions.

For topical administration, the present compounds may be applied in pureform, i.e., when they are liquids. However, it will generally bedesirable to administer them to the skin as compositions orformulations, in combination with a dermatologically acceptable carrier,which may be a solid or a liquid.

Useful solid carriers include finely divided solids such as talc, clay,microcrystalline cellulose, silica, alumina and the like. Useful liquidcarriers include water, alcohols or glycols or water-alcohol/glycolblends, in which the present compounds can be dissolved or dispersed ateffective levels, optionally with the aid of non-toxic surfactants.Adjuvants such as fragrances and additional antimicrobial agents can beadded to optimize the properties for a given use. The resultant liquidcompositions can be applied from absorbent pads, used to impregnatebandages and other dressings, or sprayed onto the affected area usingpump-type or aerosol sprayers.

Thickeners such as synthetic polymers, fatty acids, fatty acid salts andesters, fatty alcohols, modified celluloses or modified mineralmaterials can also be employed with liquid carriers to form spreadablepastes, gels, ointments, soaps, and the like, for application directlyto the skin of the user.

Examples of useful dermatological compositions which can be used todeliver the compounds of formula I to the skin are known to the art; forexample, see Jacquet et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,392), Geria (U.S. Pat.No. 4,992,478), Smith et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,157) and Wortzman(U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,508).

Useful dosages of the compounds of formula I can be determined bycomparing their in vitro activity, and in vivo activity in animalmodels. Methods for the extrapolation of effective dosages in mice, andother animals, to humans are known to the art; for example, see U.S.Pat. No. 4,938,949.

Generally, the concentration of the compound(s) of formula I in a liquidcomposition, such as a lotion, will be from about 0.1-25 wt-%,preferably from about 0.5-10 wt-%. The concentration in a semi-solid orsolid composition such as a gel or a powder will be about 0.1-5 wt-%,preferably about 0.5-2.5 wt-%.

The amount of the compound, or an active salt or derivative thereof,required for use in treatment will vary not only with the particularsalt selected but also with the route of administration, the nature ofthe condition being treated and the age and condition of the patient andwill be ultimately at the discretion of the attendant physician orclinician.

In general, however, a suitable dose will be in the range of from about0.5 to about 100 mg/kg, e.g., from about 10 to about 75 mg/kg of bodyweight per day, such as 3 to about 50 mg per kilogram body weight of therecipient per day, preferably in the range of 6 to 90 mg/kg/day, mostpreferably in the range of 15 to 60 mg/kg/day.

Compounds of the invention can be labeled using methods known in theart. A preferred detectable group is a fluorescent group. Fluorescentgroups typically produce a high signal to noise ratio, thereby providingincreased resolution and sensitivity in a detection procedure.Preferably, the fluorescent group absorbs light with a wavelength aboveabout 300 nm, more preferably above about 350 nm, and most preferablyabove about 400 nm. The wavelength of the light emitted by thefluorescent group is preferably above about 310 nm, more preferablyabove about 360 nm, and most preferably above about 410 nm.

The fluorescent detectable moiety is selected from a variety ofstructural classes, including the following non-limiting examples: 1-and 2-amino-naphthalene, p,p′diaminostilbenes, pyrenes, quaternaryphenanthridine salts, 9-aminoacridines, p,p′-diaminobenzophenone imines,anthracenes, oxacarbocyanine, marocyanine, 3-aminoequilenin, perylene,bisbenzoxazole, bis-p-oxazolyl benzene, 1,2-benzophenazin, retinol,bis-3-aminopridinium salts, hellebrigenin, tetracycline, sterophenol,benzimidazolyl phenylamine, 2-oxo-3-chromen, indole, xanthen,7-hydroxycoumarin, phenoxazine, salicylate, strophanthidin, porphyrins,triarylmethanes, flavin, xanthene dyes (e.g., fluorescein and rhodaminedyes); cyanine dyes; 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene dyes andfluorescent proteins (e.g., green fluorescent protein,phycobiliprotein).

The compounds can be radiolabeled, where the labeling groupspontaneously emits a signal, or generates a signal upon theintroduction of a suitable stimulus. Radiolabels, include atoms such as,for example, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁹F, ¹H and the like.

The compound is conveniently administered in unit dosage form; forexample, containing 5 to 1000 mg, conveniently 10 to 750 mg, mostconveniently, 50 to 500 mg of active ingredient per unit dosage form.

Ideally, the active ingredient should be administered to achieve peakplasma concentrations of the active compound of from about 0.5 to about75 μM, preferably, about 1 to 50 μM, most preferably, about 2 to about30 μM. This may be achieved, for example, by the intravenous injectionof a 0.05 to 5% solution of the active ingredient, optionally in saline,or orally administered as a bolus containing about 1-100 mg of theactive ingredient. Desirable blood levels may be maintained bycontinuous infusion to provide about 0.01-5.0 mg/kg/hr or byintermittent infusions containing about 0.4-15 mg/kg of the activeingredient(s).

The desired dose may conveniently be presented in a single dose or asdivided doses administered at appropriate intervals, for example, astwo, three, four or more sub-doses per day. The sub-dose itself may befurther divided, e.g., into a number of discrete loosely spacedadministrations; such as multiple inhalations from an insufflator.

Docking studies with FlexX software (Kramer et al., Proteins, 37:228(1999)) implemented in Sybyl (TRIPOS) using the Bcl-x_(L) conformationfound in the complex with Bak-peptide showed an optimal location forGossypol in the deep hydrophobic cleft normally occupied by the Bakhelical BH3 peptide in the complex (FIG. 3 a). We docked both the (+)and the (−) stereoisomers of Gossypol, as these exhibited differentactivity in previous cell-based assays which showed that (−) Gossypol isten times more effective than (+) Gossypol as a cytotoxic agent (Qiu etal., Exp. Biol. Med., 227:398 (2002)). The goodness of the fit asmeasured by a scoring function (Pervushin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A., 94:12366 (1997), and the intermolecular energy afterminimization with the DOCK routine of Sybyl, was considerably better for(−) Gossypol (−32.7 Kcal/mol) versus (+) Gossypol (−25 Kcal/mol), inagreement with these observations. The structure of (−) Gossypol isshown (FIG. 3 a), but the overall positioning of both stereoisomers ofGossypol is very similar.

To evaluate the cytotoxic activity of our compounds on human tumorscells, we tested their biological activities using XTT dye reductionassays using two breast cancer cell lines: MCF7 (high expressor ofBcl-2/Bcl-x_(L)) and ZR75-1 (low expressor of Bcl-2/Bcl-x_(L)). Gossypolis a cytotoxic agent for MCF7 and ZR75-1 cells, (FIG. 4 a, b), reducingcell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC₅₀ values of 13.2 μMand 8.4 μM, respectively. Purpurogallin, however, did not showappreciable activity in these assays, potentially due to its hydrophiliccharacter (ClogP ˜0.7). Consistent with this observation, aPurpurogallin derivative 5D1 that is predicted to have bettercell-membrane permeability properties (based on its ClogP of ˜2.5)reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC₅₀ value of 50μM the ZR75-1 cell line (not shown). For these reasons, we furtherevaluated the cellular activity of our compounds in HeLa cells (Table3), which are known to be less selective for compounds uptake. Theinhibition data obtained with HeLa cells viability assays parallel thein vitro binding data with BCl-x_(L) (Table 3), with a correlationcoefficient of r=0.9 (p=0.001).

Experimental Section

Fluorescence polarization assays (FPA). FPA assays were conducted with afluorescein-labeled Bad peptide (NLWAAQRYGRELRRMSD-K(FITC)-FVD) (SynpepCorporation, Dublin, Calif.) using a LJL Analyst HT (Molecular DevicesCo., Sunnyvale, Calif.). Dilution buffer for all stocks and samples was50 mM Tris-Bis pH 7.4, 0.01% bovine gamma globulin. A series of two-folddilutions of Gossypol were prepared, i.e., 100 μM, 50 μM, down to 0.1 μMin dilution buffer. To each tube was added a solution containing 30 nMof BCl-x_(L) and 4 nM fluoresceinated peptide. The tubes were incubatedfor 5 minutes at room temperature and 20 μl each of reaction mixture wastransferred to 96-well black PS, HE Microplate (LJL Biosystems Co.). Allassays were performed in quadruplicate, with blank wells receiving noGossypol. Then, the plate was read for total intensity and polarization(in mP units) was measured. Controls included dose-responsesmeasurements in absence of the proteins, to assess any interactionsbetween the compounds and the FITC-BH3 peptide. Eventual effects weretaken into account by subtraction.

NMR Spectroscopy. 2D [¹⁵N,¹H]-TROSY (Pervushin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U.S.A., 94:12366 (1997); Pellecchia et al., Nat. Rev. Drug Disc.,1:211 (2002)) spectra for BCl-x_(L) were measured with 0.5 mM samples of¹⁵N-labeled Bcl-x_(L). ¹⁵N-labeled and unlabeled Bcl-x_(L) were preparedand purified as described in Sattler et al., Science, 275:983 (1997).For chemical-shift mapping and docking studies we used thethree-dimensional structure of Bcl-XL in complex with Bak peptide (PDBcode 1 BXL). In addition to chemical-shift mapping with labeledproteins, T_(1ρ) measurements (Hajduk et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.,119:12257 (1997)) and saturation transfer experiments such as WaterLOGSYexperiments (Dalvit et al., J. Biomol. NMR, 18:65 (2000)) were alsoperformed to further validate the binding of the studied compounds toBcl-x_(L). All experiments were performed with a 500 MHz Varian Unity+spectrometer or a 600 MHz Bruker Avance600 spectrometer, both equippedwith four rf channels and z-axis pulse-field gradients. Selective watersaturation was performed with a train of selective IBURP2 pulses of 7 msdurations spaced by a 10 ms delay. Total saturation time used was 2.5 s.T_(1ρ) series were measured with a spin-lock pulse of variable length.Measurements were then performed with 1 ms, 10 ms, 50 ms, 150 ms, 200ms, 250 ms and 300 ms spin-lock time with 100 μM compounds in theabsence and presence of 10 μM protein. In all experiments, de-phasing ofresidual water signals was obtained with a WATERGATE sequence.

Molecular Modelling. Molecular modelling studies were conducted onseveral R12000 SGI Octane workstations with the software package Sybylversion 6.9 (TRIPOS). The docked structure of Gossypol was initiallyobtained by FlexX (Kramer et al., Proteins, 37:228 (1999)) asimplemented in Sybyl. Two calculations were performed. In the first, allbinding-site torsion angles were kept fixed, while in the secondside-chain torsion angles were free to change. The average scoringfunction for the 30 best solutions was only slightly lower when theside-chains were free to rotate. The position of the side-chains in themodel did not change substantially from the initial values. The scoringfunction for (+) Gossypol was inferior to (−) Gossypol, but the overallpositioning of both steroisomers was very similar. The resulting bestscoring structures were subsequently energy minimized by using theroutine DOCK of SYBYL keeping the site rigid. The energy of the ligandsafter the DOCK minimization was within 5 Kcal/mol from their globalminimum of energy. Superposition of compounds was obtained by theroutine MULTIFIT of SYBYL. Colour figures showing three-dimensionalstructures were prepared with the programs SYBYL and MOLMOL (Koradi etal., J. Mol. Graph., 14:29; 14:51 (1996)).

Inhibitory Effect of Compounds on Cancer Cell Survival. The effects ofthe compounds studied in this paper on viability of tumor cells inculture were monitored by using XTT (Weislow et al., J. Natl. CancerInst., 81:577 (1989)) assays with MCF7 and ZR75-1 cell lines. MCF7 cellswere grown in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum,penicillin/streptomycin, supplemented with 10⁻¹⁰ M insulin, 1 mM sodiumpyruvate and glutamine. ZR75-1 cells were grown in RPMI containing 10%fetal bovine serum, penicillin/streptomycin, supplemented with HEPESbuffer, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and glutamine. Cells were regularly testedfor mycoplasma contamination. Cells were seeded triplicates at aninitial cell density of 1,000 cells per well. Blank wells received nocells. Gossypol, Purpurogallin and 5D1 were added at finalconcentrations of 0, 1, 10 and 100 μM and incubated for three days.Relative numbers of viable cells was determined by XTT assay. Briefly,in a 96-well plate, we added 50 μl of a mixture of 1 mg/ml of XTT(Weislow et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 81:577 (1989)) (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazoliumhydroxide) (Polysciences, Washington, Pa.) containing 0.025 mM PMS(phenazine methosulfate) to each well. The 96-well plates werere-incubated for an additional 4 hours to allow for XTT formazanproduction. Then, the contents of each plate were mixed and opticaldensities were determined at a wavelength of 450 nm (OD₄₅₀). Net OD₄₅₀was determined after subtracting OD₄₅₀ of blank wells. Low-passage HeLacells (between passage number 10 and 20) were transfected withpcDNA3-Bcl-x_(L) or control pcDNA3 plasmids using Lipofectamine Plusreagent (Invitrogen) and selected in medium containing 800 μg/ml ofG418. Immunoblot analysis of Bcl-x_(L) was accomplished as described(Krajanski 1996—Cancer Res) HeLa-transfectants were treated with variousdoses of Gossypol, Purpurogallin, and its derivatives (0, 1, 3, 10 and100 μM).

Chemicals. Pure polyphenols were obtained from SIGMA (Gossypol andPurpurogallin) and/or from Microsource Discovery Systems (Purpurogallinderivatives). Reference compounds were obtained from Chembridge Corp.(San Diego). Gossypol was tested as a racemic mixture of (+) and (−)isomers. Compounds were dissolved in DMSO at 100 mM concentration andstored at −20° C. NMR analysis was periodically performed on thecompounds as a quality control, prior to further dilution for bindingand displacement assays. Reactivity of Gossypol was tested with a¹⁵N-labeled test protein (BIR3 domain of XIAP). A solution containing 1mM Gossypol and 200 μM ¹⁵N-labeled BIR3 was incubated for two hours andthe [¹⁵N,¹H]-correlation spectrum was recorded and compared with thespectrum of the apo-Bir3. No appreciable differences in the spectra wereobserved.

TABLE 3 Structure activity relationships (SAR) of Purpurogallinderivatives

IC₅₀ (μM) IC₅₀ (Bcl- (μM) CMPD R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ R₅ X_(L)) HeLa Purpurogallin—OH —OH —OH —OH —H 2.2 6.5 5D1 —H —OH —OH —OH —COOC₂H₅ 73 51.5 1163 —H—OH —OH —OH —COOCH₃ 2.6 ~30 1142 —H —OH —OH —OH —COOH 7.4 22.9 6A1 —OCH₃—OCH₃ —OCH₃ —OCH₃ —H >100 >100 6A7 —OCH₃ —OCH₃ —OH —OCH₃ —H >100 >100

All publications, patents, and patent documents are incorporated byreference herein, as though individually incorporated by reference. Theinvention has been described with reference to various specific andpreferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understoodthat many variations and modifications may be made while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method of treating cancer in a mammal, comprising contacting thecancer cells with a compound having the formula (I), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein: each of R⁶, R⁸, and R⁹ are hydroxyl; R⁷ is

each R¹⁰ is methyl, in the amount effective to reduce the viability ofthe cancerous cells, thereby treating said cancer, wherein said canceris selected from the group consisting of lung cancer, colorectal cancer,breast cancer, and prostate cancer.